These scammers can also pretend to represent the bank and claim to be calling from the bank’s fraud control department. The fraudster might say they’re there to help you avoid fraud, but in reality, they’re the ones trying to scam you.
How does this fraud work?
Scammers often use impersonation tactics to trick their targets. They might persuade or pressure you to share personal details, transferring large sums of money to unknown accounts, or even asking for remote access to your computer on the pretext of resolving a problem.
Picture this: you are busy working on a crucial project for your office on your laptop when you suddenly get a call from an unknown number. You answer and the person claims to be a tech support representative from your company’s Information Technology (IT) department. He tells you that a new computer update needs to be installed right away, or else your system could be at risk of a virus. To win your trust, he walks you through the legitimate steps to download the Windows software update by navigating the settings and clicking on the check for updates button. You follow his instructions and download the latest Windows update without any issues by thinking that he is your company’s employee and up until this point whatever instructions he gave did not cause any harm. This is where he builds your trust. Why would a scammer want you to download real Windows updates? It’s all part of his scheme to manipulate you into believing he’s a trustworthy IT support guy.
Once he is sure that you trust him, he asks for remote access to your computer to wrap up some unfinished background work for installing a Windows update. Notice how he mentions the Windows update, which is the keyword which he used earlier to gain your trust. He says the installation of the Windows update will take many hours and he does not want to hold up your work and so he needs the remote access. You are likely to give him the access because:
- You need to finish the project within the deadline and
- He already has your trust since he just told you how to update a computer’s windows software which you did and nothing bad happened.
According to Tarun Wig, Co-founder & CEO, Innefu Labs, “Impersonation fraud thrives on a dangerous combination of human psychology, social engineering, and evolving technology. At its core, it leverages two powerful emotions: trust and fear. Victims are often convinced they’re communicating with a known or authoritative figure i.e. a family member, a bank official, a police officer or a government representative. The familiarity disarms skepticism.”
Wig says criminals further amplify urgency and panic by fabricating high-stakes situations: a compromised bank account, a police investigation, a loved one in distress, or a missed tax payment. This artificial pressure bypasses rational thinking and elicits impulsive action.
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Wig explains: “What’s even more concerning is the use of advanced spoofing tactics, where fraudsters clone caller IDs, email addresses, or even websites to appear authentic. Increasingly, deepfakes and AI voice-cloning are being used to convincingly replicate voices of known individuals, making detection harder. This fusion of psychological manipulation with tech-enabled deception makes impersonation fraud particularly potent in today’s digital ecosystem.”
How can you safeguard yourself from this fraud?
Sheetal R Bhardwaj, executive member of Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists (ACFCS) shares some tips:
- Hang Up Immediately – If a call demands immediate action or payment, it’s likely a scam. Legitimate institutions won’t pressure you this way.
- Never Share Personal Information – Avoid giving out passwords, banking credentials, or personal details over unsolicited calls.
- Verify Directly– If the call seems legitimate, contact the institution through its official phone number rather than engaging with unknown callers.
- Block Scam Calls – Use call-blocking features or security apps to filter out known scam numbers.
Wig says: “Stay cautious of urgent language or emotional manipulation, particularly in messages asking for money or sensitive data.”
“Phone scams are becoming more sophisticated, but staying alert and skeptical is your best defense. If something feels off, pause, verify, and protect your personal information before taking action,” advised Bhardwaj.
